HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGES THE PROFESSIONAL STATUS OF TECHNICAL COMMUNICATORS Yvonne Weiling Tok TECH ID: 10556388 Professor: Dr. Nancy Mackenzie Course: Capstone ENG 696 Due Date: November 21, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1 2. Purpose of conducting this study 2 3. What is social media? 3 4. The direct relationship between social media and technical communication 5 5. Theories and frameworks of literature reviews 6 5.1 What are the social media in particular that challenge the professional status of technical communicators 7 5.2 How those social media in particular challenge the professional status of technical communicators. 12 5.2.1 Networking challenges 13 5.2.2 Text editing challenges 13 5.2.3 Professional development challenges 15 5.2.4 Online marketing and promotional challenges 18 5.3 Why do they challenge the professional status of technical communicators 20 6. Social media solutions that help to enhance and protect the professional status of technical communication 23 7.0 Conclusion 25 8.0 Limitations 27 Bibliography 29